On the recordMarch 4, 2020
I thank Representative Scanlon for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this bill has six main aspects that I have major concerns with. First, the bill eliminates TSA's unique personnel management authorities created in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, commonly known as ATSA. This legislation moves employees of the TSA into the government pay schedule. In 2001, when Congress created TSA, the decision was made not to do this in order to give the agency flexibility. At present, the TSA Administrator has authority over employee pay, hiring, termination, and discipline. TSA has repeatedly told us that placing the screener workforce under title 5 would tie the agency's hands related to national security policy, workforce management, and collective bargaining. Specifically, TSA would not be able to continue a one-step removal process for employees found to have committed serious security breaches or misconduct, such as allowing unauthorized access to secure areas or allowing threat items and illicit contraband through the security checkpoint. TSA's ability to move employees to different checkpoints based on passenger volume would also be curtailed. Currently, TSA can set new security policies TSOs must follow and move TSOs between checkpoints to manage passenger volume.…
